A modular structure for a raised bed

Abstract

The present invention is enclosed in the area of raised beds. It is therefore an object of the present invention a modular structure ( 1 ) for a raised bed characterised in that it comprises at least one lower container ( 3 ), at least one upper container ( 2 ), and means for supplying water ( 4 ) to the at least one upper container, wherein: each upper container is suitable for planting or composting, is perforated ( 22 ) and is arranged over a lower container, such that at least one upper container is provided on and covers a top opening ( 31 ) of the lower container ( 3 ) and thereby a liquid within the at least one upper container drips ( 5 ) to such lower container by action of gravity, each lower container is configured to store water, and the means for supplying water are configured to bring water from a lower container on to each upper container. Such structure therefore provides for an autonomous system, which maintains unused water and nutrients, which are transported with the water, within the system.

1 . A modular structure ( 1 ) for a raised bed characterised in that it comprises at least one lower container, at least two upper containers, and means for supplying water ( 4 ) to the at least one upper container, wherein:
 at least one of said two upper containers ( 2 ) is suitable for planting and at least one of said two upper containers ( 2 ) is suitable for composting, each upper container ( 2 ) being perforated and arranged over a lower container ( 3 ), such that at least one upper container ( 2 ) is provided on and covers a top opening ( 31 ) of the lower container ( 3 ) and thereby a liquid within the at least one upper container ( 2 ) drips to such lower container ( 3 ) by action of gravity,   each lower container ( 3 ) is configured to store water, and   the means for supplying water ( 4 ) are configured to bring water from a lower container ( 3 ) on to each upper container,   
       wherein in at least two upper containers being configured to, together, cover the top opening of such lower container ( 3 ) and thereby a liquid within each upper container ( 2 ) dripping to the lower container ( 3 ) by action of gravity, and the means for supplying water ( 4 ) are arranged to bring water from a lower container ( 3 ) which is associated with the upper container ( 2 ) containing slurry. 
     
     
         2 . A structure ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for supplying water ( 4 ) to the at least one upper container ( 2 ) comprise piping and a pump. 
     
     
         3 . A structure ( 1 )  claim 1  wherein it further comprises means for insulation ( 41 ) configured to cover at least one lateral section of each upper container ( 2 ) and each lower container, wherein such means for insulation ( 41 ) are spaced from said at least one lateral section such that an air space is formed, the means for insulation ( 41 ) preferably comprising a plurality of panels. 
     
     
         4 . A structure ( 1 ) according  claim 3  wherein each upper container ( 2 ) and each lower container ( 3 ) is made of a plastic. 
     
     
         5 . A structure ( 1 ) according  claim 1  wherein it further comprises a supporting frame on which each at least one lower container ( 3 ) is provided, the supporting frame thereby supporting each lower and upper container, and wherein the supporting frame is such that it provides for the coupling of the plurality of panels, the plurality of panels preferably consisting of decking panels. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A structure ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  wherein the lower container ( 3 ) has a top opening with an area which is the same or a multiple of a base of a corresponding at least one top container. 
     
     
         8 . A structure ( 1 ) according to  claim 7  wherein each lower container ( 3 ) and each upper container ( 2 ) has a parallelepiped shape wherein, preferably, each lower container ( 3 ) has a top opening with an area of 600×400 mm and each top container has bottom face with an area of 600×400 mm or 400×300 mm. 
     
     
         9 . A structure ( 1 ) according to  claim 8  wherein at least one lower container ( 3 ) comprises an escape opening at a predefined height of the lower container ( 3 ) configured to avoid the overflow of liquid within such container. 
     
     
         10 . A structure ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  wherein it comprises more than one lower container ( 3 ) and more than one upper container, the lower containers being interlinked such that a liquid contained in each of the lower containers is levelled between the whole of the interlinked lower containers, and the means for supplying water ( 4 ) being arranged to bring water from one or more of the lower containers on to the upper containers. 
     
     
         11 . A structure ( 1 ) according to  claim 10  wherein, for each n lower containers, n−2 are interlinked with two other lower containers and 2 are interlinked with one other lower container, thereby providing a line of interlinked lower containers. 
     
     
         12 . A structure ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  wherein the means for supplying water ( 4 ) are arranged to bring water from only one of the lower containers on to all the upper containers or to all of the upper containers but one, which is the upper container ( 2 ) containing organic materials for composting. 
     
     
         13 . A structure ( 1 ) according to  claim 12  wherein the means for supplying water ( 4 ) are arranged to bring water from only one of the lower containers which are interlinked with one other lower container. 
     
     
         14 . A structure ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  wherein the means for supplying water ( 4 ) further comprise a flexible perforated piping arranged such that it provides for the sprinkling of water to each of the upper containers. 
     
     
         15 . Use of a modular structure ( 1 ) for a raised bed, the modular structure ( 1 ) comprising at least one lower container, at least two upper containers, and means for supplying water ( 4 ) to the at least one upper container, wherein:
 each of said two upper containers ( 2 ) is suitable for planting or composting, is perforated and is arranged directly over a lower container, such that at least one upper container ( 2 ) is provided on and covers a top opening ( 31 ) of the lower container ( 3 ) and thereby a liquid within the at least one upper container ( 2 ) drips to such lower container ( 3 ) by action of gravity,   each lower container ( 3 ) is configured to store water, and   the means for supplying water ( 4 ) are configured to bring water from a lower container ( 3 ) on to each upper container,   
       wherein the at least two upper containers being configured to, together, cover the top opening of such lower container ( 3 ) and thereby a liquid within each upper container ( 2 ) dripping to the lower container ( 3 ) by action of gravity, 
       wherein one of the upper containers contains a soil and a plant and the other upper container ( 2 ) contains slurry, the means for supplying water ( 4 ) being arranged to bring water from a lower container ( 3 ) which is associated with the upper container ( 2 ) containing slurry.